Dan Gelber

Last updated

Dan Gelber
Mayor Dan Gelber.jpg
38th Mayor of Miami Beach
In office
November 13, 2017 –November 28, 2023

Gelber's career in public service started at the age of twenty-five, when he was appointed as one of the youngest federal prosecutors in the nation. After nearly a decade prosecuting public corruption and civil rights cases, Gelber was selected by United States Senator Sam Nunn to be Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations where he directed U.S. Senate investigations into global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

Gelber was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 from District 106. As a member of the Florida Legislature, Gelber frequently sparred with former governor Jeb Bush. The Wall Street Journal referred to Gelber as Bush's "chief nemesis." Nevertheless, Gelber earned the respect of the former governor, who once told the St. Petersburg Times that Gelber "would be a very well qualified Governor."

In 2005, Gelber took charge of the Florida House Democratic Caucus' political operation. Under his leadership, despite the Democrats losing the Governor's mansion, state house Democrats have picked up nine Republican seats, their first net gain in the lower chamber in sixteen years, his party's best ever showing in a single cycle, and the fifth best overall gain in the nation.

In 2008, Gelber was elected to the Florida Senate from the 35th District.

Legislative record

Gelber makes a point in a news conference about the Prescription Drugs for Seniors Bill during the 2003 Legislature Rep. Dan Gelber makes a point in a news conference about the Prescription Drugs for Seniors Bill.jpg
Gelber makes a point in a news conference about the Prescription Drugs for Seniors Bill during the 2003 Legislature

Gelber has worked to increase fairness in the Florida tax code. In 2009, Gelber sponsored and helped pass a bill that closed a real estate loophole that allowed high end developers to evade taxes. He also worked to stop multistate corporations from avoiding Florida taxes. [4]

Gelber is critical of recent budget cuts that leave Florida last in per student spending. He has fought spending cuts to the state university system. He is also a vocal critic of the FCAT, believing that "[y]ou shouldn't have a school system where the ceiling is the floor." [5]

Drawing on his experience prosecuting corruption as a US Attorney, Gelber has been active in cleaning up government[ further explanation needed ]. Sen. Gelber sponsored a bill that provides criminal penalties for official misconduct, criminal misuse of official position and bid tampering. This bill passed in HB 847 and was signed into law.[ citation needed ]

2010 Attorney General campaign

On June 8, 2009, Gelber announced his candidacy for Florida Attorney General. Reminiscent of Senator Bob Graham's Workdays, Gelber performed community service across Florida, which included serving meals to the homeless, cleaning up the Wekiva River, and joining elementary school students in writing letters to veterans.[ citation needed ]

Gelber soundly won the August 24, 2010, primary election, defeating his Democratic opponent fellow state senator Dave Aronberg by 18 points. [6] His campaign has been endorsed by many top public servants, including Republican state senator J. Alex Villalobos, former United States Attorney General Janet Reno, former Florida Education Secretary Betty Castor, former Congressman Jim Davis, Congresswoman and DNC Vice Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, as well as the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the state's largest law enforcement union.

Ultimately, Gelber lost the election to the Republican candidate, Pam Bondi. [7]

Mayor of Miami Beach

Mayor Dan Gelber speaking at rally at the Bass Museum, Miami Beach, 2018 March for our lives - Miami Beach 03242018 04.jpg
Mayor Dan Gelber speaking at rally at the Bass Museum, Miami Beach, 2018

On November 7, 2017, Gelber was elected mayor of Miami Beach with 82 percent of the vote over three other candidates. His main competitor, former commissioner Michael Grieco, withdrew from the election and eventually resigned from office amid a campaign finance scandal that led to criminal charges. [8]

Committee assignments

Committee Membership

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Smith (politician)</span> American politician

Rodney Warren Smith is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, Smith was a member of the Florida Senate from Gainesville from 2001 until 2006. Smith ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida as the running mate of Alex Sink in her campaign for Governor of Florida. From November 2010 through January 2013 Smith served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. In 2016, Smith again ran for a seat in the Florida Senate but was ultimately defeated by Keith Perry, a Republican and former state representative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Governor Jeb Bush was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a third consecutive term. The election was won by then-Republican Charlie Crist, the state's Attorney General. The election was notable in that for the first time, the state elected a Republican governor in three consecutive elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Democratic Party</span> Political party in Florida

The Florida Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Florida, headquartered in Tallahassee. Former commissioner of agriculture Nikki Fried is the current chair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pam Bondi</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1965)

Pamela Jo Bondi is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served as Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019, the first woman elected to the office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Aronberg</span> American politician

Dave Aronberg is the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida and a former member of the Florida Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 2002 as its youngest member and served for eight years. He is a Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1986 Florida gubernatorial election took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country. However, in Florida, where Democrats gained the Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for just the second time since Reconstruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Florida</span>

The 2010 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 2, 2010, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 United States Senate election in Florida</span>

The 1988 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Connie Mack III won the open seat, becoming the first Republican to hold this seat since Reconstruction in 1875.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Florida elections</span>

Elections were held in Florida on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections were held on August 24, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Florida Attorney General election</span>

The 2010 Florida Attorney General election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the Attorney General of Florida. Incumbent Attorney General Bill McCollum opted to run for run for Governor rather than seek reelection. The election was won by Republican Pam Bondi, a former assistant state attorney for Hillsborough County, who defeated Democrat Dan Gelber by a 54.8% to 41.1% margin. Bondi took office in January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Florida Attorney General election</span>

The 2014 Florida Attorney General election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Attorney General of Florida. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi ran for re-election to a second term in office against Democrat George Sheldon and Libertarian Bill Wohlsifer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in Florida</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in Florida was held November 8, 2016 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Florida, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primary elections for both the Republicans and Democrats took place on August 30, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Florida, alongside an election to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and other state and local elections. Incumbent two-term Republican Governor Rick Scott was term-limited and could not run for a third term, and he successfully ran for Florida's Class I Senate seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to elect the 27 U.S. representatives from the state of Florida, one from each of the state's 27 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Florida</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 6, 2018, alongside a gubernatorial election, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives and other state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic senator Bill Nelson ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was narrowly defeated by Republican governor Rick Scott. The election was the closest Senate race in the state's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Florida Attorney General election</span>

The 2018 Florida Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Attorney General of Florida. Incumbent Republican attorney general Pam Bondi was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the 27 U.S. representatives from the state of Florida, one from each of the state's 27 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The party primaries were held on August 28, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Grieco</span> American politician from Florida

Michael Christopher Grieco is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat, Grieco served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022, representing the 113th district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Florida, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won re-election in a landslide and defeated the Democratic Party nominee, Charlie Crist, who served as governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011 as a Republican and later as an independent. No Democrat has been elected governor of Florida since 1994.

References

  1. ↑ Derby, Kevin (September 10, 2019). "Reelection Assured, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber Staying on the Political Stage |" . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. ↑ Reporter, Contributing (September 9, 2019). "Miami Beach Mayor Gelber Unopposed, and Reelected on September 6th". Miami Beach Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ Carmona, Sergio. "Former Miami Beach Mayor Seymour Gelber was a dedicated public servant, active in Jewish community". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Press Release from Senator Gelber". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Time ripe for FCAT change". Archived from the original on April 23, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  6. ↑ Sanford Brill. "Florida Department of State - Election Results" . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Election Results". CBS4. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Dan Gelber elected mayor of Miami Beach | Miami Herald". Miami Herald . Archived from the original on November 8, 2017.
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 106th district
2000–2008		Succeeded by
Florida Senate
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 35th district
2008–2010		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Florida Senate
2006–2008		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Florida
2010 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Miami Beach
2017–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.